Betta Fish vs Honey Gourami - Which is The Ultimate Center Piece Fish?

In time I will probably get both - I think they're both great fish and plan on putting them in different environments that meet their personalities and needs.

This isn't relevant to the video but I wanted to share with you two some exciting news in my tanks. I talked a bit about this in the livestreams so you may remember. I picked up some gold H. formosa from Steve a while back but lost all of them except for 3 females due to a disease (You helped me treat it in a livestream - thank you for that!). I was pretty heartbroken as I loved these fish. I ended up adding some pygmy Corydoras as 3 h. formosa is a little sparse for a 10 gallon. Anyway, it's now about 3 months after the outbreak and I have H. Formosa fry again!!! I knew they could store milt, but without drops the last couple of months I thought they were done until I got some males. I'm guessing the heavier feedings due to the additional occupants signaled to them that it was time to reproduce again!

What center fishdo you recommend to a nano of 15-16 gal with 10 nano fishes (ember tetras+gobies) and shrimps? I used to have a pair of dwarf gouramis but they hunted the baby shrimp, I don't want that!

I can't pick one over the other. I adore both of them and have had both. Although I've had more bettas number wise over the years, the little honey gouramis I've had here and there were just so adorable. And THIS is how the MTS starts, here a tank, there a tank...🤣
👍💖👍

Paradise fish vs Betta … would like to see a vid on that.

Buckminster, my Betta I got from John & Lisa, is indeed my "water puppy". When I put my hand in his tank, he will come to it for pets!

Yes to the honey gourami! I have had to many health issues with bettas, too stressful for me! Love to watch the honey gouramis use their feelers to greet each other :)

Honey ones are hard to find in big box

What the heck…both 😁

I had to ask you guys. Have you ever done videos on mixing substrates? If not, it'd be a really nice video...

Recently, I've been looking into setting up a 29g tank with 20-25 pounds of black sand, and I wanted to incorporate about 5-10 pounds of blue/black gravel into it in some ways.

I was thinking about maybe creating a mound (maybe a couple) or something out of the gravel, then having the remaining substrate be all sand.

So basically, it'd be all black sand with some blue/black gravel mounds (with maybe some plants protruding from the gravel mounds)...

What do you guys think??? You think the mounds of gravel would become too obscure from getting mixed together during cleanings with a siphon? That's one thing I'm foreseeing to be an issue.

I have had bettas. I'd like to try something new. I'm going with the Honey Gourami on this one. 😇 Gina Hetlage

paradise fish ftw

The biggest problem that I've encountered with Bettas is that they can be more of a hassle to feed, especially in a community tank. Some Bettas will not eat unless the food is placed directly in front of them. Some days I just want to throw some food in and walk away and not worry about it. That's not an option for some Bettas.

For me it's just Tank Size. Gouramis are better in a larger tank size. Bettas in a smaller tank size. Both a great center piece fish either way tho.... Tho it is hard to walk past a Betta in a fish store

Just put my new mustard gas betta in my 8 gallon biorb classic that my red honey gourami has been living in. So far so good. I pray they become friends because I love them both. They both have these great personalities and are just the best fish!!

I’ve had fish since 1977. I have had 2 Betta in the past. They took food from my hand. They are beauties, very personable. I now have a36 gallon bow front. I have my first single male Honey Gourami. Only had him for 4 months. I named him Mycroft. I have to see what the difference is. He so far is not as shy as some have mentioned. A lot braver and personable than the 2 powder blue gourami I had years ago in my 30 long. I do have a lot of live plants a few rocks and a piece of driftwood. I have hard water so I mix 1/2 and 1/2 reverse osmosis and tap water with Water conditioner when I do my water changes. My tank had been running for 3 years when I introduced the gourami. I have a group of 7 green neons, a group of 5 black neons, 5 gold white mountain minnows, 3 standard colour white mountain minnows. 11 Pygmy Cory’s. , 2 bronze Cory’s. We will see in time whos side I’m on. I still want another Betta. Not enough time to maintain two tanks. I have a husband, a cat and a dog to take care of. Plants and the rest of life. The trouble with this hobby is you want a LOT of different fish. 😅 I’ll let you know how things work out. I’m in the Midwest Indiana. I’ve not been able to get two female honeys to keep Mycroft company. My local fish shop might be able to order them . After I quarantine them . I’ll take Mycroft out and house him in my quarantine tank , with water from the 36 gallon . Put the females in the 36. Give them a couple of days to settle, then add Mycroft back in. I’ll move a few rocks around and move some plants. I think it will be safer than introducing the females to Mycroft’s territory. Any thoughts on this ? I’d be grateful for your time. Thank you

Well, why not both? I just got 4 female honey gourami for my 75g, and have a male betta in a 10g, and two females each in her own 10g, all of them centerpieces. They're all great!

I do have a female betta with honey gourami in my 75g community. They've gotten along well! But the girl betta was put in as a baby- she was tiny when I got her, so maybe that helped?

I am probably going to try both in a 20G. My F betta seems pretty chill and loves with neons and Pygmy corys no problem!

Having kept both, I would have to go to team betta. Honeys are absolutely amazing regardless. I think a bettas personality and colours really put it a tiny bit ahead. Maybe I'm biased though since bettas got me into this hobby

I’m with team honey

No contest !!!Beautiful Betta every time . Have you considered any of the wonderful wild types - imbellis Persephone - many fabulous wild options - see FranksBettas . Also - my wonderful boy ( and especially my males - though my female imbellis is just getting to know me -water puppy - definitely . Love them ! Zephr is a Total Diva - Apollo is just so loving ! Best pets Ever!!!!!

Honey gourami is cheaper than the betta.
I have betta and blue ram. They are both intelligent but betta is slightly smarter I think.
I also want gourami but I can’t take care of many fish maybe someday

having kept an oscar i dont find bettas to be nearly as water puppy as them. i do still prefer betta over honey gourami but i also prefer the full sized gouramis better anyways. if im gonna center piece a small tank gotta go betta. currently have a black orchid wanna say rosetail. thinking of breeding to see what kinda lil monsters i can produce.

I have 2 male flame and two male pale blues in a community tank. They all come to the top as soon as I come to the tank. I have a male betta. He is watching me as soon as I walk in. Personality I like both but I like the versatility of tank mates with gouramis.

There are actualy 3 collor variaties of honey gourami. There is also a wild type in which the females a dul gray orange-ish, but he males get bricht orange with a yellow dorsal fin with the face turing black blue-ish in breeding mode. Stunning little guys and they stay slightly smaller then the other two variaties.😊

All she can say is but but the colours!?!

So basically the argument is honey gouramis are Hardy/versatile and cute.... but bettas are so pretty? XD

After having lost two plakat bettas within the course of several months independently I now stick to honeys and macropods. Never more bettas. They seem die no matter how hard you try, and they literally broke my heart as charming as they were. Honeys are like marmalade in your tank and they last :-) Besides, they keep the tank algae free! Macropodes are amazing beautiful robust fish, intelectual and fun, reminds of betta in this respect without its poor health. My go all together without problem.

The cost of diversity in betta breeds is high. I’d rather stay with the natural colours of a honey gourami

How could you forget price? LoL HGs are less than $10. The Bettas mentioned can cost upwards of $40, plus shipping. Some are in the $100 range!

I've kept both , I'm going with honey gourami 😊. I love them so much.

My betta is a showoff who is super active, my honey gourami is super skittish and hides in my plants. Betta all the way

GH can be kept with shrimp more so than Bettas

Betta 🎉

Well this like you jumped in my head with this video! I just set up a 20L dirted/deep substrate tank - was originally planning a betta and some sort of nano fish- Then while researching found Honey Gourami and ember tetra …and this video- . Wham! Looks like these for the win once I am cycled. Also- yup on the betta locking eyes- This is how I ended up with a female / and emergency purchase of a 5.5 gal tank….. the struggle is real. Love all the information in your videos…..

In my eyes Betta looks so fake just like the DNA modified Neon series.

Once again this in my eyes.

Honey Gourami all the way baby !! 😎👍

I’m a gourami fan. I have 3. I usually have to ask who is doing the observing when I’m with them.

I’ve had both, and some bettas are just absolutely amazing with great personalities, BUT, honey gourami’s are just way more peaceful and I personally love the way they hug other fish and feel all around with their feelers. I used to have a breeding pair and they were just so amazing.

Thanks. I’ve been a betta keeper for years but have given up. I agree the over breeding is resulting in many issues. I’m trying a honey gourami! Thanks for the alternative. I would have never found them without you!

I love powder blue eyes r bluest gourami’s .. they’re gorgeous .. I have a 5G nano tank with a hanging roots garden I created myself with pieces of spiderwood and gentle blue light with a group of blue/black panda guppies and am thinking of a centerpiece fish, Gourami obviously.. but guess a red/blue one or just blue

I have 2 gold honeys and a blue betta in a tank with 5 white clouds and 3 panda corys in a 15 gal planted tank. They all are doing great. Sometimes the honeys chase eachother.

Bettas forever, sorry lil gouramis

I've kept both. But no matter what I do, Bettas just get sick and die. Every single one, ever. I'm not going to get one again anytime soon.

Bettas have such sweet personalities… mine is a such a dork hahaha! He always cheers me up with his antics.

How are they with amano shrimp?

Can I keep a honey gourami in a 10 gallon cherry shrimp tank? I’m really interested in getting one🤩